PNCWA Government Affairs Committee members at the 2018 Fly-in

WATER WEEK EVENTS

Oregon State University stands ready to tackle that challenge, with help from a visionary gift to the College of Engineering. 

A $3.28 million commitment from Jon and Stephanie DeVaan has allowed OSU to launch the Clean and Sustainable Water Technology Initiative. The effort, led by Lewis Semprini, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering (pictured below), will build on the university’s strengths to become a national leader in designing, building, and testing systems-level approaches to the problem of access to clean water. 

Faculty in the College of Engineering and across campus are recognized nationally and internationally for their groundbreaking research related to water systems. Several specialize in advanced technologies for treating drinking water, wastewater, and storm water, while others focus on the infrastructure needed for sustainable water management.

The DeVaans’ gift will support graduate students who join faculty research on clean and sustainable water technology solutions. Their gift will also allow undergraduate students to engage in hands-on learning experiences, developing their research skills and their passion for finding practical solutions to this critical global problem. Continue

Today, EPA announced the availability of approximately $5.5 billion in credit assistance for water infrastructure projects under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. This financing will help support approximately $11 billion in total infrastructure investment.

In the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), the WIFIA program solicits letters of interest from prospective borrowers seeking credit assistance from EPA. The NOFA outlines the process that prospective borrowers must follow to be considered for WIFIA credit assistance and establishes relative weights for the selection criteria. Priorities for Fiscal Year 2018 are (1) provide for clean and safe drinking water, including reducing exposure to lead in the nation’s drinking water systems and (2) repair, rehabilitate, and replace aging infrastructure and conveyance systems. Letters of interest from prospective borrowers seeking WIFIA loans will be accepted until 12:00 PM (noon) EDT on July 6, 2018.

WIFIA-financed King County, Wash., stormwater treatment project to protect water quality in the Duwamish River

Construction is underway in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, Wash., on a combined sewer overflow (CSO) wet weather treatment station that will treat up to 265 million L/d (70 mgd) of polluted stormwater runoff that currently can flow into the Duwamish River during severe rain events. The $262 million Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station — a key part of King County’s broader objective to safeguard Puget Sound — is expected to help protect the Duwamish River from stormwater pollution for the next century.

Support the Water For People Committee

The Water For People committee would like to encourage PNCWA members to join our committee! Joining the committee is a great way to show your support for the Water For People organization and the critical services they provide. Committee members help plan and implement exciting events at the conference and during the year and raise awareness of the work of Water For People among PNCWA members. Please contact Kelsey Harpham if you are interesting in becoming a part of the committee!

PNCWA WFP and Optimism Brewing partner for fun and a great cause.

WEF Awards Deadline Extended to April 15

WEF is proud to present a variety of awards recognizing hard work in protecting one of the world's most valuable resources. Award recipients are individuals and organizations that contribute to the sustainability of water resources and make a profound impact on the future of the world’s water through involvement with water professionals and education.

• National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards Program
• Individual Service and Contribution Awards
• Education Awards
• Organization and Association Recognition Awards
• Operational and Design Excellence Awards
• Published Papers

See https://www.wef.org/membership/awards-recognition/wef-awards/

Beer for Us, Water For Everyone - PNCWA Committee Supporting Water For People

To celebrate World Water Day 2018 the PNCWA Water For People Committee is teaming up with Optimism Brewing in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle to support Water For People. Optimism Brewing will be offering 'virtual pints' all day, donations of which will go to Water For People's mission of providing drinking water and sanitation services to everyone forever.

The S&YP Committee is recruiting judges for the 2018 Student Design Competition! Three judges will be selected from the pool by March 31, 2018.  The SDC Subcommittee will select judges that represent the diverse nature of our industry.  Commitments include the review and scoring of a design notebook and team presentation feedback. 

• Judges must be WEF-PNCWA members
• No travel will be required.
• The presentation will utilize an interactive web based platform and will be held on April 30, 2018
• Participation as a judge will take approximately 10-15 hours of your time.
• Three judges will be selected from the pool by March 31, 2018

July 29, 2018 - July 31, 20

Portland Crowne Plaza | Portland, Oregon

In March, water sector professionals can attend the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.)  Odors and Air Pollutants 2018 conference.

The event will educate about current regulatory requirements and methods for analyzing problems and finding solutions. The event features a workshop, opening general session, exhibits, and 13 technical sessions. Topics covered in the conference’s technical program include

It's Time for the 2018 Student Design Competition - Submit intent to enter by Feb 19

The Adopt-a-School grant program provided water education opportunities for 1,567 students in 16 schools throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho. A total of $6,500 was awarded as follows

Cliff Church, who holds Grade II Wastewater Operator and Grade I Water Operator licenses, received the 2016 Oregon Wastewater Operator of the Year Award from the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association. The award announcement calls Church “an operator who exhibits a commitment to learn safe and efficient plant operations. … He is willing to understand the operations of each plant and has shown a mechanical ability by repairing, maintaining and trouble- shooting equipment.”

Church, a reclaim water technician, was nominated by Andrew Albee, former Myrtle Creek Public Works director and now superintendent of the clean-water plant in Roseburg. “Right from the start,” he says, “Cliff struck me as a real square guy who cared, was really interested in his work, and didn’t treat wastewater as a just a job.” Continue

Webinar Series:  Enabling the Water Resources Utility of the Future

Webinar:  Achieving and Maintaining Economic and Social Health for the Community
January 23, 2018
1:00 - 2:30 PM, EST

The landscape that has traditionally driven clean water utilities is changing rapidly. Today’s utility managers are no longer just treating and discharging wastewater. They are looking for ways to optimize their efficiency, recover valuable resources, and enhance their contribution to the overall health of watersheds and their communities.

As “anchor institutions” in their communities, these Utilities of the Future employ innovative approaches not only to meet their own goals, but also to support the financial and social health of the communities they serve. Please join NACWA, WEF, U.S. EPA, WateReuse, and WE&RF for this webinar describing how leading clean water utilities are using innovative assistance programs to support low-income ratepayers and small water systems serving surrounding communities, enhancing the overall economic and social well-being of the entire area.